Uniti (automobile)

Last updated
Uniti Sweden AB
Uniti
Company type Public company
Industry Electric car
FoundedJanuary 1, 2016;8 years ago (2016-01-01)
FounderLewis Horne
DefunctApril 1, 2022 (2022-04-01)
FateBankrupted
HeadquartersTellusgatan 13,
Lund
,
Sweden
ProductsUniti car
Number of employees
7 employees
Website http://www.uniticars.com

Uniti Sweden was a Swedish automotive startup founded in January 2016 by a team of students and engineers under CEO Lewis Horne which aimed at developing a high-tech electric city car in Lund, Sweden. It filed for bankruptcy in April 2022. [1] UNITI is now on its 2.0 journey with a new management, new strategy and new team. UNITI 2.0 aims to announce the next steps in 2024. Uniti started as an open innovation project at Lund University and evolved into an independent startup in January 2016. The company aimed at changing the automotive codes by redesigning the entire car, focusing on delivering a lightweight, digital first experience, as well as producing a completely climate-neutral car. [2]

Contents

The company was initially funded through a series of crowdfunding campaigns, [3] angel investors and institutional investors. The company had over 3000 investors from 40 countries. The company also conducted vehicle pre-order campaigns at Media Markt locations in Stockholm and Malmö, with VR test-drives available. [4]

Uniti

Prototype and concepts

Uniti publicly exhibited the one-piece cockpit concept, called Kepler Pod, for the first time during the 2016 CeBit event. [5] The cockpit has been coupled with a virtual reality system to showcase the head-up display technology which will be featured in the car. Different exterior design concepts have been displayed during early 2017. [6] [7]

Initially, the two and four seater vehicles (depending on the version) were designed to comply with the regulatory vehicle category of 450 kg heavy quadricycles (L7e), [8] like quads and e.g. the electric Renault Twizy.

To be lightweight and safe, sustainable composite biomaterials and carbon fibers will be used. Uniti vehicle was supposed to have 2 electric motors delivering a total output 15 kW (40 kW peak), which allows the vehicle to reach 0 to 80 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 90 km/h to 130 km/h depending on the version. The urban electric car was supposed to have a Li-Ion battery which supports induction and plug-in charge, and capable of supplying 11 to 20 kWh of energy. Depending on the version, the range per charge varies from 150 km to 300 km. The Swedish car will feature technologies designed in-house such as a steer-by-wire system, an interactive HUD windscreen, a digital human-machine interaction capacity, as well as autonomous driving functions. [9]

In February 2018, the company showcased a two-seater at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida, India. The company also announced a partnership with the Delhi-based Bird Group to bring a five-seater car to the Indian market by 2020. [10] [11]

Uniti One

In July 2018, Uniti announced that both the 2-seater Uniti One and a later 4/5-seat model will be in the M1 class, like proper automobiles, which means that the Uniti cars will undergo the same crash tests and safety requirements as regular automobiles. [12]

The Uniti One will be a 2-seat 100% electric city car, with internet access and innovative cockpit design comparable to using a smartphone. The asymmetric seat configuration, with the passenger behind the driver, is actually 1+1, like on a motorbike, or in the Renault Twizy. With less width and frontal area than a regular car, the Uniti One should be easier to handle and park in tight European cities, while having less drag and better range on interstate highways than most small electric cars. Modern safety features include a sensor suite and safety technologies (ADAS) to help avoid crashes before they happen. It is supposed to be Fleet Ready, prepared for the needs of businesses and car-sharing services, which may include sharing the car among relatives, friends, and neighbors without dealing with keys.

The target specifications, as of April 2019, include 240 km range, 130 km/h top speed, rear-wheel-drive dual motors with an output of 120 kW (163 hp). With power similar to a carbonfiber BMW i3, but at 900 kg gross weight less than that of a 2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive, the Uniti One should accelerate even quicker than these. The 26 kWh battery pack can be charged by DC fast charging (CCS Combo 2 for Europe) in 25 minutes from 20 to 80% state of charge, which equals to an average of 37 kW. The given values mean that the consumption is around 10,8 kWh per 100 km.

Production

German industrial giant Siemens has entered into a partnership with the group to produce their Uniti two-seater electric car. In 2017, the company claimed that prototypes would be available later that year. The partners were planning to design a fully automated Industry 4.0 facility in Malmö, Sweden, to produce as many as 50,000 cars a year beginning in 2018. They were also considering a production facility in Adelaide, Australia, for distribution into the Asian market. Lewis Horne, the CEO of Uniti Sweden, said the deal gave his company "the opportunity to not only develop a sustainable car, but also manufacture it in a sustainable way at a large scale." Ola Janson of Siemens Industry Software said he was "really looking forward to having that partnership" between "Siemens as the very old, stable company, yet still innovative" and Uniti Sweden made up of "young people, innovative people, (who) don’t have the legacy, don’t have the limits like myself." [13] [14]

In late October 2018, Uniti switched course, as it announced plans to open its European pilot production plant at a business park in Silverstone, England, with 2-seaters expected in production by late 2019 or early 2020, followed a few months later by 4- and 5-seat versions. [15] [16] Among the advantages to the Silverstone Park plant are: access to design, engineering and production talent, supply chain access, as well as access to the UK auto market. [17]

In 2019, the specifications for the first production vehicle were announced, and orders were opened via the website, requiring a 50% deposit. Unlike the prototype, it is now a 3-seater, and to be produced in Norwich. [18] The car is available with a 12kWh or 24kWh battery, the former priced at £15,100 for a base model, making it the cheapest new electric car available to order in the UK as of November 2019 [19]

Uniti Zero

In 2021, a new prototype was shown to investors, making use of the existing Chinese made Zhidou D3 with some minor cosmetic alterations. The Zhidou was manufactured by Geely and had been subsequently discontinued. Further investment was not forthcoming and the car never reached production. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neighborhood Electric Vehicle</span> US category of microcar

A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is a U.S. category for battery electric vehicles that are usually built to have a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h), and have a maximum loaded weight of 3,000 lb (1,400 kg). Depending on the particular laws of the state, they are legally limited to roads with posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) or less. NEVs fall under the United States Department of Transportation classification for low-speed vehicles. The non-electric version of the neighborhood electric vehicle is the motorized quadricycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy (electric car)</span> Motor vehicle

Buddy is a Norwegian electric city car, produced by Buddy Electric in the early 2000s, formerly known as Pure Mobility and Elbil Norge AS, at Økern in Oslo. In 2007, the Buddy, and its predecessor, the Kewet, made up 20% of the electric cars in Norway. Since its inception in 1991, combined sales of the Kewet and Buddy had totaled about 1,500 vehicles through October 2013, of which, 1,087 were registered in Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric car</span> Car propelled by an electric motor using energy stored in batteries

An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is a passenger automobile that is propelled by an electric traction motor, using only energy stored in on-board batteries. Compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quieter, more responsive, have superior energy conversion efficiency and no exhaust emissions and lower overall vehicle emissions. The term "electric car" normally refers to plug-in electric vehicle, typically a battery electric vehicle (BEV), but broadly may also include plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quadricycle (EU vehicle classification)</span> EU vehicle category for four-wheeled microcars

The quadricycle is a European Union vehicle category for four-wheeled microcars, which allows these vehicles to be designed to less stringent requirements when compared to regular cars. Quadricycles are defined by limitations in terms of weight, engine power and speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Leaf</span> Compact five-door hatchback electric car

The Nissan Leaf, stylized as "LEAF," is a battery-electric powered compact car manufactured by Nissan, produced since 2010 across two generations. It has been offered exclusively as a 5-door hatchback. The term "LEAF" serves as a backronym to leading environmentally-friendly affordable family car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renault Twizy</span> Two-seat electric car

The Renault Twizy is a two-seat electric microcar designed and marketed by Renault. It is classified in Europe as either a light or heavy quadricycle depending on the output power, which is either 4 kW (5.4 hp) for the 45 model or 13 kW (17 hp) for the 80 model, both names reflecting its top speed in km/h. Originally manufactured in Valladolid, Spain, production was moved to Busan in South Korea in March 2019 to meet increased demand in Asia. In July 2023 it was announced that production of the Twizy was to end in September 2023; it is to be replaced by the new Mobilize Duo.

Rivian Automotive, Inc., is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and automotive technology and outdoor recreation company founded in 2009. Rivian produces an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup truck on a "skateboard" platform that can support future vehicles or be adopted by other companies. An electric delivery van, the Rivian EDV, is also being produced. Rivian started deliveries of its R1T pickup truck in late 2021. The company planned to build an exclusive charging network in the United States and Canada by the end of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance</span> French-Japanese strategic alliance

The Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, originally known as the Renault–Nissan Alliance, is a French-Japanese strategic alliance between the automobile manufacturers Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, which together sell more than one in nine vehicles worldwide. Renault and Nissan are strategic partners since 1999 and have nearly 450,000 employees and control eight major brands: Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Infiniti, Renault Korea, Dacia, Alpine, and Venucia. The car group sold 10.6 million vehicles worldwide in 2017, making it the leading light vehicle manufacturing group in the world. The Alliance adopted its current name in September 2017, one year after Nissan acquired a controlling interest in Mitsubishi and subsequently made Mitsubishi an equal partner in the Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coda (electric car)</span> Four-door, four passenger electric car manufactured by Coda Automotive

The Coda is a four-door, four passenger electric car once manufactured by Coda Automotive. After being rescheduled several times, deliveries to retail customers in the United States began in March 2012. The car was sold exclusively in California and only 117 units were delivered by April 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandi Technologies</span> Chinese battery and electric vehicle manufacturer

Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. (康迪) is a Chinese battery and electric vehicle manufacturer. Kandi is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange with ticker KNDI. It was founded in 2002 in Jinhua, Zhejiang by Hu Xiaoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Electric SP.01</span> Motor vehicle

The Detroit Electric SP.01 is a proposed battery electric vehicle designed by the Detroit Electric company and originally unveiled to the media in Detroit and then publicly at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2013. It is powered by an air-cooled lithium polymer battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in Sweden</span>

The automotive industry in Sweden is mainly associated with passenger car manufacturers Volvo Cars and Saab Automobile but Sweden is also home of two of the largest truck manufacturers in the world: AB Volvo and Scania AB. The automotive industry is heavily dependent on export as some 85 percent of the passenger cars and 95 percent of the heavy vehicles are sold outside of Sweden. The automotive industry and its sub-contractors is a major part of Swedish industry. In 2011 around 110,000 people were employed and the export income of 150 billion SEK accounted for 12 per cent of Sweden's export income. During 2009 128,738 passenger cars and 27,698 heavy vehicles were built in Sweden. Koenigsegg is also a famous Swedish company which makes some of the fastest cars in the world, but also some of the most expensive. They currently produce models such as the Jesko, Gemera, and CC850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Bolt</span> Electric hatchback marketed by Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a battery electric subcompact hatchback produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque. The Bolt was produced from late 2016 to mid-2021, subsequently restarting in early 2022, until late 2023. In mid-2023, GM officials said they would cancel the car, then three months later announced plans but no date for a next-generation model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faraday Future</span> American car manufacturer

Faraday Future is an American startup technology company focused on the development of electric vehicles, founded in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sono Motors Sion</span> Motor vehicle

Sion is a cancelled project by the German start-up Sono Motors aimed at developing a partially solar-powered electric car. The battery was set out to be chargeable using both the electric grid as well as its own solar cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nio ES8</span> Motor vehicle

The Nio ES8 is a battery electric, 6 or 7-seat full-size luxury SUV manufactured by Chinese electric car company Nio. The ES8 was put into production in June 2018 for the Chinese market and on 30 September 2021 it was launched in Norway. The ES8 serves as the flagship full-size SUV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivian R1T</span> Battery electric mid-size pickup truck

The Rivian R1T is a battery electric mid-size light duty luxury pickup truck produced by the American company Rivian. The first production R1T was manufactured in Illinois and was delivered to a customer in September 2021. The official EPA range for the Rivian R1T ranges from 289–352 mi (465–566 km), depending on drivetrain, battery pack capacity and wheel size.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEAT Minimó</span> Motor vehicle

The SEAT Minimó is a concept electric quadricycle which was developed by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT. It was first announced at the 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and was first revealed at the Geneva International Motor Show that year, alongside the Volkswagen ID.3-based Cupra Born and Cupra Formentor concept vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aiways</span> Chinese automobile manufacturer

Aiways Automobiles Company Ltd is a Chinese automobile manufacturer of electric cars founded in 2017. The Aiways name is derived from the phrase "Ai is on the way".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squad Solar</span> Solar electric motor vehicle

The Squad Solar is a neighborhood electric vehicle that has a solar panel on top to make it a solar car. The vehicle can also be plugged into a regular outlet to be powered by the grid. The vehicle is manufactured by Squad Mobility BV based in the Netherlands which was founded by Robert Hoevers and Chris Klok that previously worked at Lightyear. It is set to start production for the EU market in 2024, with no set date for production outside Europe.

References

  1. ↑ "Uniti files for insolvency". Elective.com. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Schlichter, Alexander (2016-10-11). "Uniti – Reinvent the automobile". Wundering.
  3. ↑ "Svenska elbilen som blev en crowdfunding-succé – 5 miljoner på två dagar". Veckans affärer. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  4. ↑ Carlström, Vilhelm (2018-02-01). "This revolutionary Swedish-built electric car will hit the road in 2019 – here's a sneak peek". nordic.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  5. ↑ "Uniti: Winziges umweltfreundliches Elektroauto auf der CeBIT". computerbild.de (in German). Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  6. ↑ "Uniti Design private event". www.facebook.com/teamuniti. April 29, 2017.
  7. ↑ "An Affordable, Futuristic Electric Car Will Finally Hit the Streets in 2017". Futurism. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  8. ↑ "Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles Text with EEA relevance". EUR-Lex. European Union Law. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "Uniti Sweden". Uniti. Retrieved 2017-05-23.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ Mukherjee, Sharmistha (2018-02-08). "Auto Expo 2018: Sweden's Uniti hopes to launch affordable E-car by 2020 in India". The Economic Times. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  11. ↑ "Swedish startup Uniti ties up with Bird Group to roll out electric car in India". Business Today. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  12. ↑ "Uniti Global".
  13. ↑ "Siemens Partners With Swedish Electric Car Developer Uniti". cleantechnica.com. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
  14. ↑ "New fully automated car factory in Sweden – Automotive startup Uniti partners with Siemens to establish world first facility". Uniti Sweden via mynewsdesk.com.
  15. ↑ Winton, Neil (2018-10-24). "Sweden's Uniti Shifting Initial Production Of Its Two-Seat EVs To Britain". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  16. ↑ Kane, Mark (2018-10-27). "Uniti One Electric Car To Enter Production In 2020". insideevs.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  17. ↑ "BBC Uniti feature". YouTube. 2018-10-28.
  18. ↑ "Uniti founders club launch". uniti UK.
  19. ↑ "Cheapest electric cars". DrivingElectric. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  20. ↑ "Swedish car start-up passed off rebadged Chinese EV as its new 'model Zero'". The Local. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.